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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

December 1, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Halted: Gladiators forward Mike Vigilante holds the longest consecutive point scoring streak of the season in the ECHL has he tallied a point in 13 consecutive game. His streak came to an end in Friday's 5-2 win in Greenville. Fresno's Greg Bullock held the previous season high at 12 consecutive games.

Called Up: Mike Vigilante became the second Gladiator this season to be called up to the American Hockey League. Following the Gladiators 5-2 win in Greenville, Vigilante was called up to the Portland Pirates and skated in the Pirates 3-2 overtime loss to the Providence Bruins on Saturday night. Vigilante did not figure in the game's scoring.

A Scorer? Coming into the season, Gladiators forward Blue Bennenfield didn't have a reputation as being a goal scorer, but through 19 games, the gritty forward leads the team in goals scored. Bennefield added his team leading 9th in the Gladiators 6-4 loss to Columbia on Saturday. With 108 penalty minutes, Bennefield also leads the team in penalty minutes.

The Winner: Kirs Goodjohn tallied his third game wining goal of the season in the Gladiators 5-2 win at Greenville on Friday night. His three game winning goals places him in fifth in the ECHL for winners and is tops among the Gladiators this season. Troy Milam and Kevin Doell have each tallied two game winning goals for the Gladiators this season.

Adding Assists: Brandon Dietrich continues to pick up assists as he tallied two assists in each of the Gladiators last two games. In 19 games, he has tallied at least 1 assist in 12 games and posted 6 multiple assist games this year. With 19 helpers on the season, Dietrich is in fifth place in the ECHL for assists this season.

Work Horse: Michael Garnett has become the Gladiators work horse since Adam Munro was called up to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. Garnett started five straight games for the Gladiators between November 19th and November 28th. He posted a 2-1-2 record during the streak and was seven and a half minutes shy of a shutout in the Gladiators 5-2 win at Greenville on November 28th.

Don't Miss it! Friday is replica team jersey night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center when the Columbus Cottonmouths are in town for a 7:35 p.m. tilt. The first 2,000 kids ages 12 and under will receive a Gladiators replica jersey courtesy of Amica Insurance and the Gladiators.

Community Update:

Gainesville Kiwanis – Gladiators director of Community Relations Jim Hall will be the guest speaker at the Gainesville Kiwanis Club on Tuesday, December 2nd at noon. The meeting takes place at the Gainesville Civic Center. For more information about the Gainsville Kiwanis contact Counte Cooley at 770-532-3334.

Lenscrafters @ Northlake Mall – Maximus the Mascot will be attending the "Gift of Sight Foundation" event at Lenscrafters at the Northlake Mall on Wednesday, December 3rd from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. For more information about the event, contact Susan Brundage at (770) 493-7325.

Lenscrafters @ Gwinnett Place Mall – Maximus the Mascot will be attending the "Gift of Sight Foundation" event at Lenscrafters at the Gwinnett Place Mall on Wednesday, December 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. For more information about the event, contact Barbara Wilson at (770) 623-9137.

Chipotle – The Gladiators staff and players will be at the Grand Opening of the new Chipotle on Johns Creek Rd on Wednesday, December 3rd from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information about the even, contact Sandy Smith at (678) 427-5191.

Hudgens – Children's Art Museum – Gladiators Director of Group Sales Steve Biljan and Maximus the Mascot will be at the Hudgens Children's Art Museum for "Gladiators Day" on Saturday, December 6th from11 a.m. till 2 p.m. For more information about the Children's art museum, contact Lucy Elliot at (770) 623-6002.

Last Week's Games: 1-2-0, 2 pts.

November 27th, Charlotte 6, Gladiators 3, L

Mike Vigilante extended his point-scoring streak to an ECHL season high 13 games but it wasn't enough as the Gladiators lost to the Charlotte Checkers 6-3. The Checkers jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Dusty Jamieson goal at 11:37 of the first. Mike Vigilante answered less than a minute later to tie the game at 1 one. Charlotte took a 3-1 lead to the locker room as Allan Egeland beat Garnett at the 16 minute mark and Blaz Emersic made it 3-1 with just 35 seconds left in the opening period. Cam Brown cut the Charlotte lead to one goal at the 6:41 mark of the second. A Dave Inman shorthanded goal midway through the second pushed the Charlotte lead back to two goals. Blue Bennefield answered 22 seconds later to make it 4-3. Ryan Cuthbert and Konrad McKay closed out the scoring for the Checkers and pushed the final to 6-3.

November 28th, Gladiators 5, Greenville 2, W

The Gladiators opened up a 2-0 lead by the first intermission on goals by Anthony Aquino, at the 4:59 mark, and by Kris Goodjohn , at 14:30 of the period on the power play. Goodjohn added his second goal of the night at 13:17 of the second period to push the Gladiators lead to 3-0. Steve Slonina added his second goal of the season at 5:54 of the third to give the Gladiators a 4-0 lead. Greenville got on the board with a power play goal by Jeff Zehr at 12:08 of the third. Brad Peddle regained the four-goal lead for the Gladiators late in the third as he threw a loose puck in the slot over an outstretched Robinson at 18:22 of the third. Scott Kirton added Greenville's second goal of the night with just 10 seconds left in the final period.

November 29th, Columbia 6, Gladiators 4, L Blue Bennefield opened the scoring on a breakaway at 7:42 of the first period. He stepped out of the penalty box and picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and beat Columbia net minder Josh Blackburn. The Gladiators extended their lead to 2-0 a Troy Milam slap shot at 18:13 of the first period. Anthony Aquino slipped past the Columbia defense and took an outlet pass from Rick Emmett and beat Josh Blackburn on the breakaway to give the Gladiators the 3-0 lead at 3:07 of the second period. Corey Hessler got Columbia on the board on a power play at 6:10 of the second period. Eric Labelle cut the Gladiators lead to one as he beat Buckley at 9:22 of the third period. Barrie Moore tied the game at three at 15:01 of the third and then Columbia took the lead 14 seconds later on a goal by Alexandre Burrows. The Gladiators tied the contest up at 4-4, as Rick Emmett was able to push the puck into the back of the net out of a scrum in front of the Columbia net. Columbia regained the lead on a power play goal by Sean Owens at the 18:14 mark of final stanza. Robin Carruthers added an empty net goal with 25 seconds left in the third period to put the game away.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, December 2nd, @ Charlotte, 7:05 p.m.

The Gladiators are 2-1-1 against the Checkers this season and are a perfect 2-0-0 at the Cricket Arena. Charlotte won the last meeting, a 6-3 win last Thursday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Friday, December 5th, vs. Columbus Cottonmouths, 7:35 p.m.

Columbus gave the Gladiators their first regulation loss of the season, a 4-1 win for the Cottonmouths in Columbus on October 19th. The Gladiators won the last meeting, a 4-3 overtime win on November 6th. The Gladiators are 1-1-0 this season against Columbus.

Saturday, December 6th vs. South Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

First meeting between the Gladiators and the Stingrays this season in North Charleston. The Gladiators won the first meeting, 3-1 on November 14th and are 1-0-1 this season against the Stingrays.

Sunday, December 7th, vs. Columbia Inferno, 4:05 p.m.

Columbia won the only meeting this season, 6-4 on Saturday night. The Gladiators gave up 5 goals, a season high for goals allowed in a period, in the final stanza to the Inferno. The Gladiators organization is 2-1-0 all time against the Inferno.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Monday: The Ice Forum – Duluth, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesday: game @ Charlotte

Wednesday: The Arena, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Thursday: The Arena, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Friday: game vs. Columbus

Saturday: game @ South Carolina

Sunday: game vs. Columbia

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ECHL Stories from December 1, 2003


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